[Drew]

[Diruo]

I think it's just because automatic transmissions seem to be much more common in the US than anywhere else, but I don't know whether that's true or not. It is if you watch the movies

[Novacaptain]

yeah, that's from movies - definately. I must've seen this scene at least a dozen times:

2 guys enter car

guy1: here are the keys, can you drive a stick?!
guy2: sure!, vroom! crhhxhxxkzzzz!!!!
guy1: the clutch!!!
guy2: sorry

cut
car enters from right, stalling and making the most horrible mechanical noises

guy1: THE CLUTCH DAMMIT!!! THE CLUTCH!!!!!
car: i'm gonna die, kill me now!

The thing about the above scene is not the fact that guy2 can't shift gears, it's that guy1 asks if he can drive a stick, rather than asking if he can drive a car since, at least here, you have to know how to shift gears manually to get a licence at all.

But I know that the list of stereotypes i made is probably full of gross generalizations or untruths. It's just stuff that you could conclude from watching movies, tv shows and other things that come out of the US, either for satire or seriousness.
_________________
It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice - Scooter

[Cicinimo]

http://americawestandasone.com/
_________________
artpad.org

[Drunken Monkey]

personally i prefer THIS version, it speaks to my soul more

WE GONNA FREE THE SHIT OUT OF YOU!
_________________
"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity" - Sigmund Freud

[Gort]

"slavery?"

lol!
_________________
- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[Tomasis]

If the guy is not ironic, so it is not so remarkable :) lol

[Mony]

Oh the USA. Land of extraordinary contradictions.

Populated by immigrants, home to nationalists.
Richest country in the world, in hock to the Chinese.
Claims to be a democracy, is actually a Republic, with an idiotic voting system.
Polices the world, yet the population has the lowest take-up of passports in the developed world.
Gives the world the most advanced science, yet tears itself apart about creationism (sorry, Intelligent Design).
Is home to the richest ... and some of the poorest.
Talks about peace constantly, but is a ferociously violent society, both externally and internally.
Hates empires, yet builds the largest economic one ever seen.
Constructs an admirable secular Constitution, and spends the next 200 years trying to undermine it.
Admires size 0, but has an obesity problem.
Reveres teeth and the perfect smile, but it's only available if you have $$$.
The individuals are lovely, but the nation itself is terrifying.
_________________
http://godisimaginary.com

[Gort]

[gLitterbug]

[allpetter]

Imo,

Your president is dumb.

Your president is ignorant and do not give a damn about european politics.

Alot of overweight misfits go on air.
(You would not beleave how widespread TV-shows like Ricky Lake were a few years back; and still are.)

That is how media projects it to the public.
And that is how the public start to think.

Same effect like the frog in cold water that eventually starts to boil.
It wont jump out because its a gradual process.

Still, who would not see the good sides aswell?
I do; and I hope that is how most people see it.
_________________
Fru Tina K�ttet

[Affected]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4881474.stm

I guess some people in Britain are a little hostile towards USians.

[Capt. Fred]

I'm glad many other American posters on the article didn't feel the same way. There is very little there to suggest that the behaviour she received is in any way typical.

Maybe people just don't like her.

I like the part about patriotism: "I appreciate that British people often don't understand why I have so much pride, they think it's brainwashing."

It's fantastic because she then goes on to say that, although she did not vote for bush and doesn't agree with his warring, that he is like a father and must be defended and respected even when one disagrees with him.

Absolutely outrageous I think non US persons will agree. Positively 1984.

[gLitterbug]

She said she's ready to defend her father figure, but she complains about taking a black eye in his stead. Maybe people really just don't like her. I'd not be surprised.

[Tomasis]

[Drew]

[Drunken Monkey]

[allpetter]

[Capt. Fred]

[Impaler]

That's funny, Fred. A lot of the big shows on TV right now came from Europe. American Idol's the big one, but there's also Fear Factor, Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, The Office, Extreme makeover: Home Edition, Supernanny, Wifeswap, etc.

Guess you guys were just returning the favor for our awful TV shows. :D
_________________
QED, sort of.

[Drunken Monkey]

capt, thats good, because springer is the gutter - hardly a representation of people here. So is cops and most of those talk shows.

[Tomasis]

drunken monkey, it's time to make the REVOLUTION now as in Russia or France, hehe

[Drunken Monkey]

Tomasis, revolutions are bloody and unnecessary. I was living in Riga, Latvia downtown when USSR fell and there were shots fired and people killed... just a few minutes away from our house. Latvia is a small country so it wasnt anything major like thousands dying but I don't want a repeat on a mass scale here in us.

Just as corporations gradually and systemtically chip away at 1st and 2nd amendment (the pillars of true liberty anyone has in USA) we need to gradually and systematically put all these scumbags in prison.

Here is a few quotes for you to send the chills down your spine:

"The Constitution is just a god damn piece of paper."
- George Bush, 2005

source, more sources

Here is co-author of Patriot Act - John Yoo being interviewed:

click for audio

Similarly, law Professor Marty Lederman explains:

"this [subsection (ii) of the definition of 'unlawful enemy combatant'] means that if the Pentagon says you're an unlawful enemy combatant -- using whatever criteria they wish -- then as far as Congress, and U.S. law, is concerned, you are one, whether or not you have had any connection to 'hostilities' at all."

Notice how this neatly eliminates Trial by Jury. Kind of like stalinist Russia had it when millions of people disappeared into the night to wake up in concentration camps next morning. Add not having a gun to protect yourself when a fascist pig-cop brakes into your house and asks you to lick his boot, and not being able to speak out publically without repricutions and you are living directly in 1984 at the mercy of some asshole/elite royalty in the office.

"The Constitution doesn't say every individual in the United States or every citizen is hereby granted or assured the right of habeas,'' Gonzales told Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Jan. 17, 2007.

Of course the monarchs will get away with everything - they are royalty after all.

...

So an average 15-30 year old could go back to playing WoW or managing their iPod collection or some other mindless fluff... this politics stuff is silly as someone here said. Forget it all, just disregard and move on with something fun!
_________________
"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity" - Sigmund Freud

[Tzan]

My Blood Elf Rogue isnt going to hit level 23 by himself
Off to play WOW!

[Tomasis]

drunkenmonkey, i just joked .. therefore it was not exactly the revolution in Latvia what one could to do if Usa is continuing killing some people in the world while americans theirselves dont nothing except playing Ipod and WoW, eating fat food? *rhetorically asking myself*

[Affected]

Nixon's legal counsel, I believe, said that Nixon had basically stated he believed his powers were more or less similar to those of Louis XIV, and that he was as such immune to the law. What a surprise he was in for... What about the current US administration though?

[Brake Check]

I know it was stated that Americans should not post here but some things are not readily apparent about America or Americans
1) America is a large continent..America has a very small civil police force. Civil Defense is the Duty of the Citizen..which means that Americans have the inalienable right to keep and bear arms..because the police cannot be everywhere and cannot be anywhere very fast. The "fact" that guns are easily obtained and accessible is stated over and over but the fact is..there was only one gun on Virginia Tech campus and only one crazy had access to it..
2) Americans are getting fat..because the food they can afford is flour, sugar, grease..and that is expensive..
3) Americans don't have medical care. The government should not provide socialized medicine..A long time ago, there was an idea that medical care was a function of religion..care for the sick, pray for the dying and bury the dead..Then in the 1960's medical care became "for profit" rather than a Christian Duty..and costs soared.. Americans can't afford medical care..
4) It is generally agreed among people 40 and over that American will not survive another 15 or 20 years..if that
We are seeing tremendous pressure, both internal and external that is going to end America..There are too many people..there is a huge international transiant population pouring into the US who think that America is a tropical paradise...everything should be their way and free..but America is one tough place..and the local, homegrown Americans do not have self reliance or local self government anymore.

[Brake Check]

BTW
The really dumb thing about America is dual citizenship which was only allowed after about 1970 BUT..the way America could rule the world is Dual Citizenship..
Everyone wants to have Dual Citizenship..so there is allegiance to another country while enjoying the economic benefits of American Citizenship but if Every American claimed every dual citizenship to which he or she may be entitled and VOTED in those elections..America would rule the world
Think about it...Americans of German Ancestory now outnumber Germans who were born in Germany..1/3 of America is German..Can Americans vote in German elections by right of Birth..How about Britian? Most Americans can claim Dual citizenship in both Germany and Britian..and another huge segment can vote in Italy..and Ireland..and France..I personally could claim citizenship in 5 or 6 European Nations..and really run your country ..just like America is being ruled by foriegners through campaign contributions/lobbying by international governments, business conglomerates and foriegn voters..

[Drunken Monkey]

Brake Check,

You are right about our right to bear arms but it was not meant as a measure to compensate for small police force despite that being one of positive side effects. Its a God given right of every individual on the planet as far as it goes. Unless you are a slave (or a royal subject), you without question have a right to protect yourself. This right is not up to any court to debate, not up to any judge to decide on and not for the brain washed majority to dictate. USA is a constitutional republic not a democracy as many would like to believe. There is a huge movement here in US to disarm the public, i can only imagine the sinister urge that drives these people - in face of every historical fact and statistic that shows how secure and peaceful an armed society is and how violent and oppressive disarmed societies become. There are a lot of us who oppose of course, and are only willing to give up our guns starting with bullets first.

How many would that psychotic prick in Virginia have killed if half the students and faculty were armed? I'll tell you - he wouldn't even try.

I agree with most everything you say, good posts.

P.S.
My roommate is a Yale shrink. He has some things to say about medical care in US that are derived from first hand experiences during his rotations. The influx of illegal Mexicans is absolutely to blame for the sky high medical costs. If you don't have insurance here in US - you don't really get good care. Illegals come here, don't take care of themselves (they can't, and don't know how) and when they come to ER they can't pay either - so i end up picking up a $5,000 bill for 2 hours on a bed with morphine drip and a sprained ankle.

The political elite is letting this invasion continue because in my personal opinion they would like to see this country in ruins. There is hardly an explanation for fabricating a war, channeling money for the tools of war into pockets of a military contractor that is ran and owned by the same people who fabricated the war, all in guise of "taking the fight to the enemy" to prevent domestic terrorism, all the while our borders are wide open. You can take a Tzar bomb to Mexico on a Russian cargo ship and drive it across the border and straight into LA... boom, California is gone.

And some relevant 2nd amendment quotes:

"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Co-author of the Second Amendment
during Virginia's Convention to Ratify the Constitution, 1788

"And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the Press, or the rights of Conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms; �"
Samuel Adams

"Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence � from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable � the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference � they deserve a place of honor with all that's good."
George Washington
_________________
"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity" - Sigmund Freud

[Drew]